SAS takes lead on environment and aviation issues
On May 24th-26th international business leaders, politicians and experts gather together in Copenhagen for the
World Business Summit on Climate Change. In cooperation with the
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
SAS will host the Aviation Session where top leaders from the industry will discuss a number of recommendations to the politicians prior to the United Nations Climate Change Conference - COP 15 - in December.
SAS is the Official Airline and Greening Partner of the summit. All the participants who choose to fly with SAS to the conference will be compensated for their CO2 emission. The aim of the Aviation Session is to make a statement with clear recommendations to the politicians.
"Our main hope is that the politicians in December can define a framework in which the international industry can be developed in a sustainable way. Politicians should encourage investments in new technology such as bio fuel in order to reduce the strain on the environment," said,
Mats Jansson, CEO, SAS Scandinavian Airlines.
SAS's ambition is to be amongst the most environment friendly airlines in Europe, and the principal target is to reduce CO2 emission by 20 percent in 2020 at the latest.
"It is a fact that aviation affects the climate. We neither can, nor want, to deny this fact, even though aviation is only responsible for 2-3 percent of global CO2 emission. We would like to take the lead in terms of reducing CO2 emission. We want our customers to be able to fly SAS with a clear conscience, confident that we are doing our utmost to minimize the impact of air travel on our climate," explained Jansson.
In order to reach our goals, SAS have launched a number of initiatives, which for example includes:
- Green Approaches. In a well-prepared approach, engines can be set in an idle mode. This means that the aircraft practically glides down and saves fuel and CO2 emission. SAS has to date carried out close to 3000 green approaches.
- Fuel save program. More than 50 activities have been initiated in order to reduce fuel consumption by 6-7 percent by 2011.
- Effective routes. Better planning and intensified cooperation with air traffic management leads to fuel-saving when flying at cruise level and in approaches/take-offs.
- Lighter aircraft. Weight affects fuel consumption. SAS aims at using the lightest materials and equipment available, thus current aircraft seats will be replaced by lighter ones.
- Alternative fuel. SAS supports research project that develops next generation bio fuel. SAS aims to be amongst the first commercial airlines that fly on this type of sustainable alternative fuel.
- ISO 14001. SAS aims to achieve a certification according to environmental management standards by 2010 (EMAS and ISO 14001).
Theodore Koumelis
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Tuesday, May 26, 2009